Site Prep
Rough Grading and Pad Prep for Builders
Cut and fill to your engineer's grading plan. Building pads, driveway sub-base, and drainage routed. Compaction-ready for the soils engineer to test.
Rough grading shapes the lot or pad to your engineer's grading plan. Cut and fill to design elevations, drainage routed away from structures, soils compacted lift-by-lift. We hit grade and hand off ready for the next trade. Building pads, driveway sub-base, ADU sites, commercial lots.
To the Grading Plan
Cut and fill matched to the engineer's drawings, not eyeballed. Elevations checked with a laser.
Drainage Done Right
Lot drains away from the structure. We catch grade issues before concrete does.
Compaction-Ready
Pads built lift-by-lift and ready for the soils engineer to test and sign off.
What We Grade
Four Types of Pad and Lot Work
Whatever the next trade needs, we shape it to plan first.
Building Pads
House and ADU pads cut and filled to grading plan. Compacted lifts, ready for foundation layout.
Driveway Sub-Base
Cut, fill, slope, and compact. Ready for base rock and the paving or concrete crew.
Lot-Wide Cut and Fill
Whole-lot grading on raw land. Move dirt to balance, route drainage, prep for stake-out.
Drainage Routing
Surface swales, slopes away from foundations, water directed to the right places.
What's Included
Every rough grading job includes the cut, fill, compaction, and drainage. We shape it, you build on it.
- Site walk and review of the engineer's grading plan before machines roll in.
- Cut and fill to design elevations, verified with laser or rotary level.
- Drainage swales and slopes routed away from the structure.
- Lift-by-lift compaction with sheepsfoot or smooth drum roller.
- Coordination with soils engineer for testing and any re-work.
- Pad ready for foundation layout, framing layout, or paving sub-base.
Pricing & Timeline
What It Costs and How Long It Takes
Real numbers per square foot or yardage. Every quote is written and itemized.
Cost
How much does rough grading cost?
Rough grading in the Sacramento area runs roughly $0.50 to $2 per square foot for residential pads. Most building pads land between $2,000 and $8,000.
- Residential building pad: $2,000 to $8,000
- ADU or addition pad: $1,500 to $5,000
- Driveway sub-base: $0.75 to $2.50 per square foot
- Whole-lot grading: priced by yardage moved
Timeline
How long does grading take?
Most residential pads run 1 to 3 days on site. Larger lots and commercial sites depend on cut/fill yardage.
- Single residential pad: 1 to 2 days
- Larger residential or ADU site: 2 to 3 days
- Commercial lot: scoped per yardage
- Soils engineer testing wait built into schedule
Built for These Trades
Who Hires Us for Rough Grading
Grading work for the audiences that need it most.
Related Services
Run These Together for One Quote
Bundle grading with these adjacent services. Same crew, one number.
Common Questions
Rough Grading Questions Builders Ask
How much does rough grading cost in the Sacramento area?
Rough grading in the Sacramento area runs roughly $0.50 to $2 per square foot for residential pads. Most building pads land between $2,000 and $8,000. Cost depends on lot size, cut/fill volume, soil, and access. Every quote is written and itemized.
What's the difference between rough grading and finish grading?
Rough grading shapes the lot or pad to within a few tenths of finish grade. Cut and fill, drainage routed, pad compacted. Finish grading is the last pass, usually within an inch of design grade, done by the landscape or paving crew. We handle rough. The next trade handles finish.
Do you do compaction testing?
We compact lift-by-lift to spec, but soil compaction testing is done by a third-party soils engineer. We coordinate with your soils engineer, hold the pad open for testing, and re-work any areas that fail. Cost of testing is separate and usually paid by the GC or owner.
How long does rough grading take?
Most residential pads run 1 to 3 days. Larger lots and commercial sites depend on yardage and access. Cut and fill yardage is the main driver. Wet soil or rock can extend the schedule. We give a hard timeline with every quote.
Ready to Hit Grade?
Send the Grading Plan, the Address, and a Start Date
We send a written grading quote within 24 hours on most jobs.